Deeply Rooted (When I Read Your Word)

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 22:24-25, Wise Saying #3 24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Who is the person in your life that can get you the angriest quickest? Come on... we all know at least one person who can! It probably didn't take you very long to think of that sibling, that friend, that parent, that coworker, or that teacher. Simply put, there are people in our lives who are expertly good at annoying us and leaving us angry, and most of them don't even realize they are doing it. The more important question is how do we respond to them? It's very easy to look at this verse and be like "hmm, I definitely shouldn't be friends with Blah Blah, cuz they are always so easily angered." But let's take a second to look at ourselves! What kind of friend are we? If we are easily angered by others, it will trap us (that's wh

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 22:22-23, Wise Saying #2 22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, 23 for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Sometimes it's kind of tempting to do something just because we can. When we know there won't be consequences, we are way more likely to do something that we normally wouldn't.  Think about a little kid and the absolute buffest, scariest man in the world. Say both of them are eating a plate of candy and they both stand up to go do something really quick. I would totally be tempted to go over to the little kid's plate and take a piece of candy. But, I wouldn't DREAM of taking the candy off the big, scary dude's plate. The difference is that if the little kid finds out, there's not much that the kid can do to hurt me.  These verses are kind of telling us that that little kid is actually the son of the big scary dude. And the dude car

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 22:17-21, Wise Saying #1 17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, 18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. 20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, 21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? For the next 30 days, we will be covering 30 "wise sayings" found in Proverbs 22-24... get excited! (If you crack open a hard-copy Bible, you'll see that these sections are genuinely numbered off as Wise Saying Number One, etc) This first wise saying gives an important (but also somewhat funny) message: "Listen to these 30 sayings!" It is kind of like when a teacher says, "You're gonna want to take notes on this part... it's

REMINDER: THIS IS THE LAST DAY YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! You've done it. You have traversed through 9 chapters of Proverbs all on your lonesome. And you did great! Today, you are reading the first 16 verses of Proverbs 22. After verse 16, Proverbs begins a new little section called "the thirty sayings of the wise." Basically, we are about to go through thirty sayings that people collected into the Bible. We will go back to our typical format but it will be broken up into thirty sayings, so buckle in! The title of each day will tell you how many sayings in you are! For today, though,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 22:1-16 1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 2 Rich and

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 21 1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. 2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. 5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. 6 A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.  7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 20 1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. 3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. 4 Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. 6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? 7 The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 19 1  Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. 2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way! 3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. 4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. 6 Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. 7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much m

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 18 1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. 3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. 4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. 5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. 6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare t

  REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 17 1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. 2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. 6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children

  REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 16 1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. 7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyon

  REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead,  we want YOU to write us any questions   you have  regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 15 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead, we want YOU to write us any questions you have regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 14 1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. 2 Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways. 3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. 5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. 6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a fool, for you wil

REMINDER: For the next few days, we are going to be reading entire chapters of Proverbs! We won’t have any devotionals with them… instead, we want YOU to write us any questions you have regarding what you read. Just submit your questions/thoughts in the comments below, and we will spend time each day responding!  Enjoy the reading! If you’re struggling, it always helps to pray before for help! R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 13 1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. 2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. 3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. 4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. 5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. 6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the

  R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 12:20-28 20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. 21 No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. 22 The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. 23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. 24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. 25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. 26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27 The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. 28 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Hi team! We are about to enter into a new challenge for the next 9 days. The section of verses above are the final verses in chapter 12. For chapters 13-22, we are going to put the WHOLE chapter in these blogs, bu

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 12:13-19 13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. 14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. 15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. 16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. 17 An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies. 18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? This passage talks about two things: the way we talk and the way we listen. In these verses, we learn that there is a sinful way to talk and listen, but there is also a fruitful way to talk and listen! Let's break down each one: Sinful: Evildoers use sinful talk, and end up in trouble for it (v. 13) Not listening to advice, thinking they are right (

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 12:9-12 9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. 10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. 11 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. 12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Be authentic. Be caring. Be authentically caring.  That's the message I see in these verses. Let's re-read those verses with that lens: 9  (authenticity) Don't pretend to be somebody you're not because it doesn't actually give you anything more than what you have.  10  (authentically caring) People should be caring overall, from caring about other people to caring about even animals. But, that care has be real otherwise it's not true kindness. Wicked people can do things that look kind, but they probably have other intentions. Ri

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 12:4-8 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. 5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. 8 A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Have you ever seen some food that has definitely  gone bad? It can be nasty. Ever smelled it? Even worse. And I really hope none of you have ever had the misfortune of eating rotten food… please tell me you haven’t… Once again, these proverbs speak directly into the comparison between the righteous and the wicked, but this time, Solomon uses a very specific word to describe the behavior and character of a wicked person: “decay.” When something decays, it begins to grow rotten,

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 12:1-3 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. 2 Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. 3 No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt established? A time that you felt established probably looked like you were in your absolute comfort zone. You knew everyone, you knew what needed to be done, and you felt confident. What if there was a way for us to walk through all of life as if we were established? THERE IS A WAY! The third verse today says that the righteous cannot be uprooted. When we are rooted, that is another way of saying established but in plant metaphor terms. Being rooted means that we are in the right soil that helps us to grow and to stay strong where we are.  By loving correction and by seeking after God's way, we will be established

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 11:28-31 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. 29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. 31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Solomon, the guy who wrote the book of Proverbs, loves to talk about the things in life that last forever and the things in life that don’t! The book of Ecclesiastes talks a lot  about how the things of this world are “meaningless” in comparison to knowing God, and these verses are very similar. Here’s a list of things in these verses that won’t last: worldly riches, pettiness and family strife, and the products of foolish and ungodly behavior. However, these verses also talk about a few things that not only last, but thrive and give life! The first thing

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 11:22-27 22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper;     whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell. 27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? So, what's discretion? I think of that word and immediately think "swim at your own discretion." When signs say that, it means you have to use your own judgement if it's smart for you to swim. When we use our own discretion, we are making decisions about what do based on our own thoughts of what would be best. What's neat about each of these proverbs is that they kind of ea

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 11:13-21 13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. 14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. 15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. 16 A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. 18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. 20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. 21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Once again, we are met with many proverbs that don’t seem to have to do much with each other… but many of these verses focus specifica

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 11:6-12 6  The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.  7  Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.  8  The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.  9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape. 10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. 11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. 12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Ask yourself this: Who is trapped in these verses and why? Reread the verses thinking that question.  My take on that question is that the unrighteous are trapped. Being trapped is the worst because you can't get out even if you want to, and most tim

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 11:1-5 1 The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? There’s a well known saying that goes something like this: “Pride comes before the fall.” That saying comes from a couple of verses in the Bible, including verse 2 (we will see this idea come up again in Proverbs 16). When we talk about what pride looks like, we tend to think of people who brag a lot about how great they are, but pride has many forms! Pride tends to be the root of a lot of wrong choices we tend to make, and we can see that in these other verses. In verse 1, we see p

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:30-32 30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. 31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced. 32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Here we have another comparison between the righteous versus the wicked. The righteous are planted, speak kindly, and can please God. The wicked are ungrounded, use messed up language, and act in a way that opposes God.  Fun fact of the day: there is a type of psychology called "positive psychology." The way this psychology works is that it studies what makes humans do well in life. So, for example, say psychologists are trying to understand what causes anxiety. A positive psychologist would study the least anxious people to try to figure out what things they are doing that leads to less anxiety. Sometimes it is way more helpful to

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:26-29 26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them. 27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. 28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. 29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? This group of proverbs says something pretty clear. God sends us out into the world to do His work and to walk in His way. When we do that, we live a VERY different life from everyone else, and it also leads to eternal life. People who do not follow in God's way (and who do not jump to do His work because of who He is) end up living a life that isn't what it should be, and it is much shorter than it should be as well, in terms of eternity.  When we believe that God loves us and guides us for His glory and our benefit, then walking through life with Him is a refuge,

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:22-25 22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. 23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. 24 What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted. 25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Blessing, delight, and desire… what do these words have in common? They are all things we long for as believers in Jesus! But what kinds of blessing, pleasure, delight, and desire do we actually want, and what do we actually need? Let’s break each one down! In all the proverbs we’ve been reading lately, we have been learning about two different people...one we want to be like and one we do NOT want to be like. The person we DO want to be like in these verses is someone who wants the Lord’s blessings, delights in wisdom, and desires righteous things! James 1:17 tells us that every good an

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:17-21 17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. 18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. 19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? In short, this group of proverbs has to do with words, and how the words we decide to listen to and the words we decide to use have a clear effect on people around us.  Verse 17 focuses on the words we listen to. There are a lot of times in life that we are given constructive criticism (discipline/correction), and we get to decide which of those pieces of correction we will take to heart. If we actively decide to ignore good constructive criticism, then we will never become the leaders that we need to b

  R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:12-16 12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. 13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense. 14 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. 15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. 16 The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? All 5 of these verses have one thing in common: “…but!” Once again, we see proverbs that tell a different story or description of someone, and there really aren’t a whole lot of similarities between them. However, each of these proverbs describes one way of living, then says the word “but,” then describes the opposite side of living. So what does this teach us? The most important lesson we can learn here is that in every situation we may find ourselves in, we have two  choices! We can choose conflict, or we can choose lo

  R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:8-11 8 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. 10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Let's group together verses 8 and 10 and then verses 9 and 11! Verses 8 and 10 both reference a talkative person who kind of ends up falling apart. This type of person first is contrasted with someone who accepts commands/directions and then grouped together with a person who "winks maliciously." Therefore, the kind of "talkative person" Solomon means here is someone who talks back and ignores commands, and someone who talks in order to woo people instead of speaking truth.  Verses 9 and 11 teach us that we get to choose our words and actions, and when we ch

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:4-7 4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. 6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. 7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Here we have 4 different proverbs, each telling a different story. However, all 4 of these verses teach us important lessons on the two types of people we can be through the ways we speak, think, and act! First, we read in verses 4-5 about two people: a lazy person and a diligent person. In verses 6-7, we learn about two people: the righteous and the wicked. Let’s compare and contrast what we learn about the lazy and the wicked (person 1) to the righteous and diligent (person 2)! In these verses, we learn that person 1 only seems to work when its convenient for them rather than when

R EAD THIS:  Proverbs 10:1-3 1  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY? Proverbs 10 is a dividing point in Proverbs. Before this chapter, we learn a lot about wisdom and how to choose it, and a lot of it is framed as advice from a father to a son. In Proverbs 10 and beyond, we instead read a bunch of specific proverbs that Solomon was known for saying or had written down himself. Remember, a proverb is a saying that is generally  true. Overall, in some broad way, it rings true. Each of the three verses above is a saying that generally rings true. Let's take a look: 1) When kids make good choices, they make their parents happy, but when kids make dumb choices, they stress their parents out.  2) Thing in this world t